Oakland Athletics General Manager Billy Bean right help Hideki Matsui with his new #55 A's jersey during a press conference at the Oakland Coliseum Tuesday Dec 14, 2010

Oakland Athletics General Manager Billy Bean right help Hideki Matsui with his new #55 A's jersey during a press conference at the Oakland Coliseum Tuesday Dec 14, 2010

Photo: Lance Iversen, The Chronicle

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Oakland Athletics newest member Hideki Matsui listen to questions from the media during a press conference at the Oakland Coliseum Tuesday Dec 14, 2010 that welcomed him to the team.

Oakland Athletics newest member Hideki Matsui listen to questions from the media during a press conference at the Oakland Coliseum Tuesday Dec 14, 2010 that welcomed him to the team.

Photo: Lance Iversen, The Chronicle

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Oakland Athletics General Manager Billy Bean right help Hideki Matsui with his new #55 A's jersey during a press conference at the Oakland Coliseum Tuesday Dec 14, 2010

Oakland Athletics General Manager Billy Bean right help Hideki Matsui with his new #55 A's jersey during a press conference at the Oakland Coliseum Tuesday Dec 14, 2010

Photo: Lance Iversen, The Chronicle

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Members of the Japanese media work side by side with local media as they cover the arrival of Oakland Athletics newest member Hideki Matsui at the Oakland Coliseum Tuesday Dec 14, 2010.

Members of the Japanese media work side by side with local media as they cover the arrival of Oakland Athletics newest member Hideki Matsui at the Oakland Coliseum Tuesday Dec 14, 2010.

Photo: Lance Iversen, The Chronicle

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Oakland Athletics newest player Hideki Matsui listens to questions from the media during a press conference at the Oakland Coliseum Tuesday Dec 14, 2010

Oakland Athletics newest player Hideki Matsui listens to questions from the media during a press conference at the Oakland Coliseum Tuesday Dec 14, 2010

Photo: Lance Iversen, The Chronicle

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The Oakland Athletics' newest player, Hideki Matsui, listens to questions from the media at a news conference at the Oakland Coliseum on Tuesday.

The Oakland Athletics' newest player, Hideki Matsui, listens to questions from the media at a news conference at the Oakland Coliseum on Tuesday.

Photo: Lance Iversen, The Chronicle

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Hideki Matsui gives A's a face and presence

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Hideki Matsui brings international stardom to the A's, along with nearly 500 home runs, counting his days in Japan and in the major leagues. He was the MVP of a World Series, and he provides a real presence, a face, for a young and promising team.

Plus, after signing a one-year deal worth $4.25 million with Oakland on Tuesday, he's no longer with a division rival.

During a news conference at the Coliseum, A's general manager Billy Beane said that the team had wanted to go after Matsui when he left the Yankees after the 2009 season, but the Angels moved too quickly. "We jumped on board pretty quick this year," Beane said.

Matsui, who followed the Oakland teams of the late '80s in Japan, said he appreciated the fact that the A's pursued him so strongly. He likes the team's promise, saying he believes the A's have "a strong chance to go to the postseason."

"Hopefully, I can lead by example and really help propel them to the next level," Matsui said through his longtime translator, Roger Kahlon.

Matsui, who has hit 493 homers between Japan and the big leagues, is expected to be a full-time designated hitter and bat in the middle of the order, probably cleanup. His problematic knees have improved, and he will work out in the outfield and be available to play there during interleague games.

A's catcher Kurt Suzuki said, "I like this. I think it's great for us young hitters to have a guy like Matsui around. It gives us someone to look up to. He's done it all, he's a champion and he's a pure professional.

"Everyone says Oakland doesn't have any pop, but adding Matsui gives us more power. It doesn't matter how old he is, he's a threat in the lineup, a presence."

Matsui is 36, and his home run total dipped from 28 with New York in 2009 to 21 last season. The A's were second-to-last in the American League in homers. Will signing only Matsui be enough, considering that initially the club was talking about adding both third baseman Adrian Beltre and a DH?

Beane said that the team is still looking to add players, and the priority remains offense. With the free-agent market thinning, the A's might consider trades, Beane said, but he added that they'd prefer not to move their best young starters. Some high-profile teams, especially the Yankees, need pitching and might be willing to deal a big bat to get it.

Oakland has more money available than usual this winter and hasn't spent a ton. There's a small chance the A's could revisit the idea of signing Beltre, even though they withdrew their offer to him earlier in the month, convinced he does not want to play in Oakland.

If Magglio Ordoñez still can play the outfield on a surgically repaired ankle, he'd have to be a consideration for a team that has lacked power on the corners. His agent, Scott Boras, has called the market for Ordoñez "impressive," however, which might put him out of range.

Among the A's free-agent pitcher targets: onetime A's starter Rich Harden, who is a potential bullpen option. The team also has talked to former Oakland All-Star Justin Duchscherer.

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